By Mike Peluso

It has been an awesome week for walleyes out here in Bismarck North Dakota getting back on the Missouri River fishing the open water again! 

Warm weather helped melt some ice and dried some stuff out a little.   We also saw some boat ramps open up and even a couple of the ramps put docks in making it easier to load and unload.  

During the early portion of last week there were only two ramps open and with 70 degree temperatures it made for a couple really busy boat landings.  As of now almost all the public ramps near Bismarck are open.  

Unfortunately, the most popular boat landing near the Interstate bridge has been taken away.  This has definitely left a huge void for getting on the water.  Plus, it was probably the best ramp for ease of launching with it laying north and south.  So if you want to put your boat in the water in Bismarck the only option you have is Fox Island. 

The walleye bite has been solid and it is common to see a decent bite right after ice out.   We will, however, experience a slowdown of sorts.  Lots of the fish being caught right now wintered here.  Once caught and kept, things will feel off or slow.  This is where we have to wait for a migration of fish pushing up from Lake Oahe to spawn.  

Water temperatures did hit 40 degrees during the three days of 70 degree weather.  On Sunday the water temperature was 38.5 to 39.5 depending on where you were at.  Navigating is different from last year, so erase your trails from last season and start fresh.  

Pitching jigs tipped with minnows off current edges by sandbar structure has done all the work for my boat this week.  The walleyes are extremely healthy and willing to bite for the most  part.  Sunlight seems to activate the bites so make sure you are in a good spot when the sun peeks out.  

Things should be in full force now unless we get a late spring blizzard.  I don’t have any openings left for the river this spring.  I do have a few scattered dates for Devils Lake in mid-May and early June and Lake Sakakawea openings for August.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state’s premier waters.

Featured Photo: Local Lunker.  Anglers are finding walleyes that wintered in the Bismarck area waters of the Missouri River and awaiting a spawning surge from the head of Lake Oahe as the flow warms. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.